The Commute

The start times for my kids' schools have changed this year.  Liv starts Jr. High almost a full hour later than Lea starts High School.  This is a problem, because last year I got into the habit of driving them to school.  They both hate the bus.  I still make them ride it home, but I figured if I could start their day on a brighter note, why not do it?  Eliminate that first-thing-in-the-morning stress-er.

When we received notification of the time changes for this year, I told them I wouldn't be able to do it.  It takes me about fifteen minutes to get to the school.  I would have to take Lea, come home, and take Liv.  Over an hour, all told, spent on getting the kids to school.  Ridiculous.  Wasn't gonna happen.  Sorry girlies, you're back on the bus.

They balked, but understood when it was laid out for them.

The first day of school rolled around and they were set to take the bus.  I said, "Aw, first morning, I'll take you - just for today."

Second morning?  You guessed it.

I think I'm going to try to keep it up.  That's crazy, right?  Not entirely.  My reasons are more selfish than not.  For the first time in a long time I get daily, built in, alone time in the car with each of them.

Every parent knows that the best conversations take place in the car, right?

Realistically, the amount of times I'll be able to do this is finite.  Lea will be sixteen in six months, for Pete's sake.

Sometimes when they start talking, I hear the ghosts of their little pre-school voices, chattering at me from the back seat, telling me about their world.  Their world has changed significantly, but my interest in it has not.

"Y'know what?"

"Tell me."